i think that dating for a short time or long time has nothing to do with a good or bad marriage- i know plenty of ppl that dated for months and got divorced and i know ppl that dated for very short that are very happy.
on a date, any man with common sense will act like a mench, even if hes rotten inside, you cannot tell whether or not their stingy, mean, insensitive etc.
a man never acts himself when hes on a date- even if he is a good man-hes still not thesame, bec their nervous and they are told to put up a show.
so by dating 1 or dating 8 times- you wont know the boy better-
A personal story-
i know a girl, she was really against short dating and she told her parents that before 7-8 dates dont even discuss a lchaim. well she met a boy, and after the first time she was ready to get engaged- after the second she told her mother to call the shadchan to move on with the shidduch- it was very ironic how the whole situation turned out.when the right one comes, you know its the right one.so whats the point in waiting even longer? and if your not sure then go on a 2nd or even a third but 8 and 9 times i think is ridiculous. oh and btw this girl is one of the happiest married girls i know!!!